The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Benue State Government to resolve its disputes with staff unions and reopen the state’s closed tertiary institutions or face mass mobilisation of students to Makurdi.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Deputy Senate President, NANS National Headquarters, Caleb King Ogabidu.
NANS expressed concern over the continued closure of five state-owned tertiary institutions, which it said had remained shut for more than two months, disrupting academic activities and leaving thousands of students out of school.
The affected institutions are Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo; Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev, Gboko; Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi; Benue State College of Education, Oju; and College of Education, Katsina-Ala.
The students’ body accused the state government of neglecting the education sector and described the prolonged closure of the institutions as unacceptable.
It called on the government to urgently resolve its outstanding disputes with the Benue State chapters of the Colleges of Agriculture and Allied Institutions Staff Union (COASU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), while making concrete arrangements for the immediate resumption of academic activities.
NANS warned that if the government failed to reach an agreement with the unions and reopen the institutions within five working days, the association would mobilise students from across the country to Makurdi on Friday, September 25, 2026, to press its demands.
The association also urged students of the affected institutions to remain calm and steadfast, assuring them that its leadership was committed to securing their return to the classroom.
It further directed its structures nationwide to commence preparations for a peaceful demonstration at the expiration of the ultimatum.
NANS said the prolonged disruption of academic activities could have serious consequences for the affected students, stressing that education should remain a priority for governments at all levels.
The statement said, “Nigerian students within Benue State have been out of school for over two months now and still counting due to an obvious negligence of education by the State government.
“We cannot mortgage the destinies of thousands of our students on the altar of the government’s insensitivity.
“Education is a right, not a privilege. Aluta Continua!”
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